The Tech Blog Writer Podcast - Inspired Tech Startup Stories & Interviews With Tech Leaders, Entrepreneurs And Innovators

Have you ever wondered what it looks like when a global professional services firm commits over one billion dollars to AI and expects it to reshape the way its people work across every corner of the business? That question sat with me as I spoke with Russ Ahlers, Chief Information Officer at BDO USA, and someone who has spent three decades building technology foundations that hold up some of the most complex operations in the industry. This conversation goes straight into the reality of enterprise AI programs, the human decisions behind them, and the scale required to turn strategy into day to day transformation. Russ shares how BDO is approaching AI as a global effort rather than a series of disconnected projects. He explains how the firm's five year investment is designed to upgrade core systems, bring automation into areas that slow teams down, and build intelligent capabilities that support professionals across audit, tax, and advisory. I was interested in how he balances ambition with governance, and he